MODERNISM AND
THE AMERICAN DREAM
EQ: What is the American Dream?
How does the American Dream
relate to American
literature?
ELACC11-12RL9: Demonstrate knowledge
of eighteenth-, nineteenth- and early
twentieth-century foundational works of
American literature, including how two or
more texts from the same period treat
similar themes or topics.
On your paper…
 When you think of America what do you most
associate with our country?
 What are some of the positive values, ideas,
or qualities associated with America? List at
least 5.
 What are some of the negative problems,
ideas, or issues associated with America? List
at least 5.
 How has America changed for the better
and/or for the worse?
Let’s see what some people
have to say about the
American Dream….
 The American Dream Video
The American Dream
[The American dream is] “that
dream of a land in which life should
be better and richer and fuller for
every man, with opportunity for
each according to his ability or
achievement.“
--coined in 1931 by J.T. Adams in The Epic of America
Other definitions
 The notion that the American social,
economic, and political system makes
success possible for every individual
 The ideals of freedom, equality, and
opportunity traditionally held to be available
to every American
 A life of personal happiness and material
comfort as traditionally sought by individuals
in the U.S.
Three central ideas
 “admiration for America as a new Eden, a
land of beauty, bounty, and unlimited
promise.”
 “optimism” a belief in “progress…life keeps
getting better and moving toward an era of
prosperity, justice, and joy that always
SEEMS just around the corner.”
 “The importance and ultimate triumph of the
individual—the independent, self-reliant
person.”
Family Focus
 Part of the American Dream is for your children
to have a better life than you which will be then
be passed down to future generations.
With your 2 0’clock partner, discuss for 2 minutes:
 How does this happen?
 What must one generation do to help the next
become “better off”?
 What must they earn, accumulate, or accomplish
to become “better off”?
How has the American Dream
evolved?
 Puritans/Colonial period
 Revolutionary Period
 Romanticism/Transcendentalism
 Realism/Naturalism
 Modernism
 http://www.online-stopwatch.com/
Modernism
 1914-1945
 An artistic movement that rejected
traditional forms and emphasize bold, new
ways of expression
 This time period is often associated with a
loss of faith in traditional values and beliefs
including the American Dream
 Why???
What was going on 1914-1945?
 World War I: The Great War (US joined in
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1917)
The Roaring Twenties
The Great Depression
The New Deal
World War II
 See timeline pages 692-701
The American Dream REVISED
 How do you define the American Dream now?
 What might be some “required” evidence of a life
that meets the above descriptions?
 How has the American Dream changed?
 How has the American Dream remained the
same?
 What forces might shape it in the future?
 Construct a 100 word response that answers
these questions.